hou
The English exclamation "boo" can be translated into French as hou or bouh.
Meaning: loud exclamation intended to scare someone (intj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| hou | |
| bouh | /bu/ |
In French, the exclamation is used to startle or scare someone. The related verb huer is used specifically when a crowd is booing a performer or a speaker derisively.
Which one should you use?
The spelling bouh is more common in written text to represent the sound of a scare, whereas hou is often used to represent a shout or a call to attention.
Related words
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'boo' can be a cute nickname for a partner, the French bouh has no romantic connotation and is strictly used for startling or mocking.
- French speakers use bouh specifically for jumpscares, but to express a 'boo' of disappointment during a sports match, they are more likely to use a loud 'pfff' or rhythmic whistling.
- In French, a person who is being 'booed' by a crowd is described by the adjective hué, effectively turning the sound of the protest into a label for the victim.
Examples in context
- Oh là là, tu m'as fait peur!Oh là là, you scared me!
- Bouh! Tu as sursauté!Boo! You jumped!
- Il a crié « hou ! » pour me faire peur.He shouted "boo!" to scare me.
- Ne me fais pas peur avec tes « hou ! ».Don't scare me with your "boos!".
Example conversation
Léa hides behind a door to surprise Lucas.
- LéaHou !Boo!
- LucasOh ! Tu m'as fait sursauter, Léa !Oh! You made me jump, Léa!
- LéaJe t'ai eu !I got you!
- LucasTu es très méchante, Lucas rigole.You are very mean, Lucas laughs.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boo” translations and entries bouh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
